Popular Post Vine Abider Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 6 Topic Count: 201 Topics Per Day: 0.36 Content Count: 3,431 Content Per Day: 6.23 Reputation: 2,283 Days Won: 3 Joined: 10/25/2022 Status: Online Birthday: 04/01/2024 Popular Post Share Posted May 20, 2023 (edited) Based upon a few discussions on here lately, I felt compelled to share this. In the local ekklesia I fellowship with consistently, we have those who hold various beliefs or practices including: · Arminianism · Calvinism · Dispensationalism · Amillennialism · Tongue speakers · Non-tongue speakers · New earthers · Old earthers · Pre-trib · Post-trib · Mid-trib · Multiple raptures However, when we get together we purpose to just make our focus to be Christ and sola scriptura and not particular views or systematized theology. I am pleased to say we are learning (through much trial and error) that we are never truly one in various teachings and practices - our oneness is only in Christ and the one Spirit we share. I must admit I sometimes am tempted to show others I fellowship with why my stance on something is correct and theirs is off. The flesh is ever ready to judge another! But, thankfully, the inner Anointing usually constrains me from doing that. "Behold how good and pleasant it is, when brethren dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1) I think it's good to remind ourselves that all of these things listed above are non-essentials of the faith (at least in my estimation). The essentials are: Do we believe Christ lived, died and rose again and will return soon? Does He live in each of us? Do we allow His Spirit to operate in and through us? Do we love one another with the love He has given us, being patient, kind and long-suffering with them (regardless of the non-essential views each might hold)? So this is pretty much the same on this forum, right? There is nothing wrong with sharing our different views of scripture and theology - iron does sharpen iron. But I think it's helpful to put things in perspective --> by our responses to one another, may we not get all wrapped up in teachings and always be conscious "of the one for whom Christ died." (Rom 14:15) They will know us by our love (John 13:35), not our supposed unity in teachings and practices! Do you think this is a edifying word? PS: Putting labels on one another simply divides and is what Paul warns us about in 1st Corinthians 3. It is often the basis for accusations and the devil loves to categorize as a means to separate us from one another. Edited May 21, 2023 by Vine Abider Corrected Arminianism Spelling 3 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alive Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 22 Topic Count: 194 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 11,053 Content Per Day: 6.54 Reputation: 9,015 Days Won: 36 Joined: 09/12/2019 Status: Offline Birthday: 01/09/1956 Share Posted May 20, 2023 12 minutes ago, Vine Abider said: theology. I am pleased to say we are learning (through much trial and error) that we are never truly one in various teachings and practices - our oneness is only in Christ and the one Spirit we share. This right here! I have said this very thing to folks with a different doctrinal view and was told there could be no unity. shameful it is…thanks for this brother. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alive Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 22 Topic Count: 194 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 11,053 Content Per Day: 6.54 Reputation: 9,015 Days Won: 36 Joined: 09/12/2019 Status: Offline Birthday: 01/09/1956 Share Posted May 20, 2023 I was reading Charles Spurgeon earlier today and it made me wonder how many members here think well of him and his views…sorry, I digress. Perhaps an OP. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creativemechanic Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 414 Topics Per Day: 0.12 Content Count: 1,273 Content Per Day: 0.36 Reputation: 518 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/22/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted May 20, 2023 I r beens saying so. All it does is foster division 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neighbor Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 18 Topic Count: 953 Topics Per Day: 0.35 Content Count: 13,589 Content Per Day: 5.03 Reputation: 9,056 Days Won: 6 Joined: 12/04/2016 Status: Offline Birthday: 03/03/1885 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Well maybe it is okay to be a three point Calvinist. Seriously, I appreciate the position taken at one local church I attend when in town that espouses "major on the major's and let the minor's be minor. Love God - love one another." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alive Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 22 Topic Count: 194 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 11,053 Content Per Day: 6.54 Reputation: 9,015 Days Won: 36 Joined: 09/12/2019 Status: Offline Birthday: 01/09/1956 Share Posted May 20, 2023 3 minutes ago, Neighbor said: Well maybe it is okay to be a three point Calvinist. Seriously, I appreciate the position taken at one local church I attend when in town that espouses "major on the major's and let the minor's be. Love God - love one another." I have not heard that phrase in ages! Way back when a was a young full of snot preacher, that was a saying. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enoob57 Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 35 Topic Count: 100 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 41,193 Content Per Day: 7.98 Reputation: 21,469 Days Won: 76 Joined: 03/13/2010 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/27/1957 Share Posted May 20, 2023 To answer the OP: Because we are told by Scripture: Jude 3 (KJV) [3] Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Anyone can examine the historical documents up and to the fourth century and find that basis for 'determinism' and 'total depravity or rather total inability' was not found till Augustinian writings (4th century)... the early Church believed in freewill theodicy. Which as you can see Jude 3 says we are to contend for that faith 'the faith which was once delivered unto the saints' 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neighbor Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 18 Topic Count: 953 Topics Per Day: 0.35 Content Count: 13,589 Content Per Day: 5.03 Reputation: 9,056 Days Won: 6 Joined: 12/04/2016 Status: Offline Birthday: 03/03/1885 Share Posted May 20, 2023 2 minutes ago, Alive said: I have not heard that phrase in ages! Well I do go back a ways. I was a "does it matter" employee of a church affiliated in Shepherd's Seminary and yes John MacArthur. Yet the twelve elders had individual leanings and grand discussions. One day a newer elder said I am a four point Calvinist, but I do have doubt about one point of Calvinism". Realizing I was seriously outmatched, and had need to deal with these 12 good men on a near daily basis, I began a personal determined study for over a couple of years time only to find myself right back at "does it really matter?" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
believeinHim Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Royal Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 431 Topics Per Day: 0.28 Content Count: 3,209 Content Per Day: 2.08 Reputation: 410 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/06/2020 Status: Offline Share Posted May 20, 2023 (edited) Do you know how much arguing went on when America was first being founded, about laws, and land, and all kinds of hob knobbing and stuff that went on there, When America was first being founded, By all of the same people ? ! ! ! ! ! ! You expect all of this to get along perfectly together ? ! ! ! ! ! ! I can't even get my Senior Citizen mother to stop putting pop songs in HER head, Which then puts them in My head, And I'm the daughter ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! She is more like the teenager, and I am more like the mother when it comes to entertainment ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! She has Facebook and Twitter, And I have a flip phone without a browser and a laptop ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! That's blood related family, We cant' all agree on, You expect a whole bunch of differing views to come together, And what, Just get along ? It doesn't work that way in blood related families, And it certainly did not work that way with the Founding Fathers ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Loll, Not to like, Be the bearer of bad news, Or anything. Don't shoot the messenger. Loll ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! We are one in Christ, But we are not one people. One in Christ, Not one people. Edited May 20, 2023 by believeinHim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marathoner Posted May 20, 2023 Group: Royal Member Followers: 16 Topic Count: 71 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 10,143 Content Per Day: 7.07 Reputation: 13,099 Days Won: 97 Joined: 05/24/2020 Status: Offline Share Posted May 20, 2023 3 hours ago, Vine Abider said: Based upon a few discussions on here lately, I felt compelled to share this. In the local ekklesia I fellowship with consistently, we have those who hold various beliefs or practices including: · Armenianism · Calvinism · Dispensationalism · Amillennialism · Tongue speakers · Non-tongue speakers · New earthers · Old earthers · Pre-trib · Post-trib · Mid-trib · Multiple raptures However, when we get together we purpose to just make our focus to be Christ and sola scriptura and not particular views or systematized theology. I am pleased to say we are learning (through much trial and error) that we are never truly one in various teachings and practices - our oneness is only in Christ and the one Spirit we share. I must admit I sometimes am tempted to show others I fellowship with why my stance on something is correct and theirs is off. The flesh is ever ready to judge another! But, thankfully, the inner Anointing usually constrains me from doing that. "Behold how good and pleasant it is, when brethren dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1) I think it's good to remind ourselves that all of these things listed above are non-essentials of the faith (at least in my estimation). The essentials are: Do we believe Christ lived, died and rose again and will return soon? Does He live in each of us? Do we allow His Spirit to operate in and through us? Do we love one another with the love He has given us, being patient, kind and long-suffering with them (regardless of the non-essential views each might hold)? So this is pretty much the same on this forum, right? There is nothing wrong with sharing our different views of scripture and theology - iron does sharpen iron. But I think it's helpful to put things in perspective --> by our responses to one another, may we not get all wrapped up in teachings and always be conscious "of the one for whom Christ died." (Rom 14:15) They will know us by our love (John 13:35), not our supposed unity in teachings and practices! Do you think this is a edifying word? PS: Putting labels on one another simply divides and is what Paul warns us about in 1st Corinthians 3. It is often the basis for accusations and the devil loves to categorize as a means to separate us from one another. Indeed. Apart from essentials, theological positions vary greatly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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